The Prophet's Hajj: A historic holy pilgrimage

History of Hajj

The Hajj has a long history of being obligatory. Here are details of the Hajj being obligatory in pre-Islamic times and in Islam.

Pre-Islamic Hajj activities

Hajj became obligatory during the time of Ibrahim (A):
وَعَهِدۡنَآ إِلَىٰٓ إِبۡرَٰهِ‍ۧمَ وَإِسۡمَٰعِيلَ أَن طَهِّرَا بَيۡتِيَ لِلطَّآئِفِينَ وَٱلۡعَٰكِفِينَ وَٱلرُّكَّعِ ٱلسُّجُودِ
And We commanded Ibrahim and Ishmael to purify My House for those who circumambulate it, observe I'tikaf, bow, and prostrate themselves. [Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse: 125]

This verse of the Quran and the incident of the sacrifice of Ibrahim and Ishmael (A) show that the law of Hajj first came during Ibrahim (A).

However, after the death of Ishmael (A), the Kaaba came under the control of different tribes and tribes and they started using it for idol worship.

Those who did not worship idols performed Hajj. However, there were differences in the procedures for performing Hajj. They performed Hajj as follows:

1. Performing Sa'i: Even in the pre-Islamic era, Sa'i was performed on the hills of Safa and Marwa. However, not everyone did it. At that time, idols were installed on these two mountains and respect was shown to the idols during the Sa'i.

2. Tawaf: Even in the pre-Islamic era, pilgrims used to circumambulate the Holy Kaaba seven times. However, pilgrims who were not from Quraysh used to tawaf naked. They used to say, how can we tawaf in the clothes we have disobeyed Allah by wearing. However, some pilgrims used to borrow or buy clothes from Quraysh, their descendants, and allies, who were called 'Hums', and wear this and tawaf.

3. Shaving the head: Even in the pre-Islamic era, pilgrims used to shave their heads or cut their hair short after the Hajj.

4. Staying in Arafat: It was narrated from Aisha (RA), that in the pre-Islamic era, the Quraysh of Mecca used to stay in Muzdalifah and did not go to Arafat. All other tribes of Arabia used to stay in Arafat.

5. Animal sacrifice: Even in the pre-Islamic era, pilgrims used to sacrifice animals. However, it was done in front of the gods and goddesses installed in the courtyard of the Kaaba. Then the meat of the animal was distributed among the poor pilgrims.

6. Rufada: During the Hajj, the people of Mecca would collect money according to their ability and entertain the arriving pilgrims with it. Hisham ibn Abd Manaf introduced the Rufada tradition. (History of Holy Mecca: Shaykh Shafiur Rahman Mubarakpuri)

Hajj in Islam

This verse of the Quran was revealed in the 9th year of the Hijri:
فِيهِ آيَاتٌ بَيِّنَاتٌ مَقَامُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمَنْ دَخَلَهُ كَانَ آمِنًا وَلِلّٰهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا وَمَنْ كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ اللهَ غَنِيٌّ عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ
In it are clear signs [such as] the standing place of Abraham. And whoever enters it will be secure. And the pilgrimage to the House is [a duty] upon mankind for Allah - whoever can find a way to it. But whoever disbelieves - then indeed Allah is free from the worlds. [Surah Al-Imran, 3:97]

After this verse was revealed, the Prophet (SAW) was busy himself, so he sent a delegation to Hajj with Abu Bakr (R) as the leader.

The Farewell Hajj of the Prophet (SAW)

In the 9th year of Hijri, a delegation of Muslims led by Abu Bakr performed Hajj and freed the Kaaba from idols. After the Kaaba was freed from idols, the Prophet (SAW) decided to perform Hajj in the 10th year of Hijri.

Announcement of Hajj

Jabir (R) said: The Prophet (SAW) did not perform Hajj for nine years while he was living in Medina. In the tenth year of the Hijri, it was announced that the Rasulullah (SAW) would perform Hajj that year. A large number of people came to Medina and gathered.

There was no one left who could ride a horse or walk. They all came to go out with the nabi (SAW). All of them intended to follow the Prophet (SAW) and perform Hajj like him.

The Prophet's speech

Jabir (R) said: The Prophet (SAW) addressed us and said: The place of Ihram for the people of Medina is Dhul-Hulaifa, and the other way is Al-Juhfa and the place of Ihram for the people of Iraq is Zatu-Iraq. The place of Ihram for the people of Najd is Qarn, and the place of Ihram for the people of Yemen is Yalamlam. He said: The Rasulullah (SAW) set out when there were five or four days left in the month of Dhul-Qadh. And he sent the hadeeth, the sacrificial animal.

We set out with him. There were women and children with us. When we reached Dhul-Hulaifa, Asma bint Umays (R) gave birth to a son named Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr. Then he sent a messenger to the Prophet (SAW) and asked him what he should do. He said, ‘Take a bath, tie a cloth over the bleeding area, and enter the state of Ihram.’ Then the Nabi (SAW) prayed in the mosque and remained silent.

Wearing Ihram

Jabir (R) said: Then he [Muhammad (SAW)] mounted his camel, Kaswa. When the camel took him to a place called Baida, he and his companions recited the Talbiyah of Hajj. Jabir (R) said, "I looked as far as my eyes could see, and in front of him were only people riding and walking. On his right, on his left, and behind him, there were people like him. And the Prophet (SAW) was standing among us.

The Holy Quran was revealed to him. He knows its interpretation. So we were doing exactly what he was doing. He recited the Talbiyah with Tawheed: “Labbayk Allahumma labbayk, labbayka la sharika laka labbayk, innal hamda wan ni'mata laka wal mulk, la sharika lak”.

Entering Mecca and doing tawaf the Kaaba

Jabir (R) said: Thus we reached the Baitullah with him. It was the morning of the 4th of Dhul Hijjah. The Prophet (SAW) came to the door of the mosque. Then he mounted his camel. Then he entered the Kaaba. He touched the Black Stone. Then he walked to its right. Then he walked around it three times and came to the Black Stone. Then he walked normally for the fourth time. Then he reached Maqam Ibrahim (a.s.) and recited this verse: (Wattakhizu mim Maqame Ibrahima Musalla)

He recited this verse loudly so that the people could hear it. Then he prayed two rak'ahs, placing Maqam Ibrahim between him and the Ka'bah. In these two rak'ahs, he recited Surah Kafirun and Surah Ikhlas. Then he went to Zamzam, drank its water, and poured it on his head. Then he went to the Black Stone and touched it.

Sa’i between Safa and Marwa

Jabir (R) said: Then he went out through the Safa Gate and went to the Safa Mountain. When he came near the Safa Mountain, he recited: Surely, Safa and Marwa are among the signs of Allah. I am beginning with what Allah has begun with. Then he began with Safa and climbed to a height where the Kaaba could be seen. Then he turned towards the Qibla and declared the Oneness, Greatness and Praise of Allah, saying: “La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la shareekalahu lahul mulku wa la lahul hamdu yuhay wa yumitu wahua ala kulli shayin qadir, la ilaha illallahu wahdahu la shareekalahu anjaza wa dahu, wa nasara abdahu wa hazamal ahzaba wahdah”.

Then in between he made a dua and recited it three times. Then he walked towards the Marwa Mountain. When he entered Batinul-Wadi, he started running. When he reached the ‘other side of the valley’, he resumed his normal pace. When he reached Marwah, he climbed it and looked towards the Kaaba. Then he did on Marwah what he had done on Safa.

Journey to Mina at 8th Dul Hijjah

Jabir (R) said: the prophet (SAW) mounted his camel. He led us in the Zuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha, and Fajr prayers. Then he waited for a while. Thus the sun rose. He ordered a woolen tent to be pitched for him at a place called Namira.

Staying and speech at the Arafat

The Prophet (SAW) crossed the Sacred Mosque reached Arafat and found a tent pitched for him at a place called Namira. He alighted there. Then, when the sunset, he ordered the she-camel named Kaswa to be brought and mounted it and stopped in the middle of the valley. Then he gave a speech.

Then Bilal (R) gave the Adhan once and Iqamah. The Prophet (SAW) led the Zuhr prayer. Bilal (R) gave the Iqamah again. The Rasulullah (SAW) also led the Asr prayer. He did not offer any other prayer between the two prayers.

Praying two prayers together in Muzdalifah and spending the night

Thus he came to Muzdalifah. Then he prayed Maghrib and Isha together with one Adhan and two Iqamahs, and he did not pray any Tasbeeh or any voluntary prayer between these two prayers. Then the Prophet (SAW) went to bed. Thus the dawn arose. When the time for Fajr became clear (Awal Wakta), he prayed Fajr after the Adhan and Iqamah.

Throwing pebbles at Jamara

"After the sun had risen fully, he threw seven pebbles at the Great Jamarat. He said, "Allahu Akbar" while throwing each pebble. Each pebble was like a boot. He threw the pebbles from the middle of the valley while riding his mount, "and he said, 'Learn the rules of your Hajj. Because I do not know, I may not be able to perform Hajj again after this Hajj.'"

Animal slaughter and head-shaving

Then he went to the place of slaughtering the animals and slaughtered sixty-three camels with his own hands. Then he gave Ali (R) the responsibility of slaughtering the remaining ones and he made him a partner in his hadi. Then he ordered to take a piece from each slaughtered camel and cook it.

Speech of Yaomun Nahr and performing the obligatory tawaf of the Kaaba

The Prophet gave a speech on the yaomun nahar. Then the Rasulullah (SAW) rode to the Kaaba and performed the Tawaf. His companions also performed the Tawaf. “Those who performed the Hajj with the Nabi (SAW) did not perform the Sa’i between Safa and Marwa.” Then he prayed the Zuhr prayer in Mecca and came to the family of Abdul Muttalib, who were giving people water from Zamzam. He said, “O family of Abdul Muttalib! Fill the buckets with water and give it to the people to drink.”

References for the discussion, from the announcement to Yaomun Nahr's speech: (Ibn al-Qayyim, Za'd al-Ma'ad: 2/92-95)

The return journey to Medina

During the Farewell Hajj, the Prophet (SAW) stayed in Mecca, Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah for a total of 10 days. After completing the Hajj, Rasulullah (SAW) returned to Medina on the morning of Wednesday, 14th Dul Hijjah.

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